Spring trout stocking schedule announced today

[FRANKIED]

Oh No, I hated the way they did it last year. There were dead trout everywhere. People don't know how to release fish

[LanceinNJ]

Just now, FRANKIED said:

Oh No, I hated the way they did it last year. There were dead trout everywhere. People don't know how to release fish

This!!

[vdep217]

Last year pretty much had the stream i fish to my self as they shut the park down and lots where you park to walk in.  I would park on the rd down the street and walk through the woods than when done walk the road back not many wanted to walk thst far

[JHbowhunter]

4 minutes ago, MGHunter66 said:

Please don’t get Jack going on trout flex tags, shorter seasons, etc

2 trout over 21", per season.  Catch them any way you prefer....  

[bucky]

17 minutes ago, Nomad said:

That was the best part of the trout stocking for us.  Would always take my kids to those ponds.  Caught some great fish there.  

Most kids are happy to catch any size fish They had to steal those big fish from some where's, IMO the streams have been lacking bigger fish in the spring and  fall for the past few years

[hammer4reel]

I like the crazy catch and release days .

got me trying the fly rod again last year and had an absolute blast .

Gives guys that don’t need to kill every fish they catch some enjoyment .

wish was a few weeks to do so .

 

[JHbowhunter]

23 minutes ago, MGHunter66 said:

Why?

because the average jack-wagon  power-baiting trout fisherman has no clue how to properly release a fish...   At least open it when the gut hooked fish can be kept.  It's a huge waste.   

[JHbowhunter]

Just now, hammer4reel said:

I like the crazy catch and release days .

got me trying the fly rod again last year and had an absolute blast .

Gives guys that don’t need to kill every fish they catch some enjoyment .

wish was a few weeks to do so .

 

more than half those C&R fish will be dead before the opener.    

[hammer4reel]

Just now, JHbowhunter said:

more than half those C&R fish will be dead before the opener.    

Plenty of guys know how to release fish .

‘I had spots last year where they were pushed that most guys wouldn’t wade to . Had a blast up until stopping when the water got warm .

‘most CR guys are using artificials which give a great chance at recovery .

Springtime trout are heartier than the shad we CR

[Bucksnbows]

3 hours ago, vdep217 said:

You can still fish the year round conservation areas correct?

Yes, nothing changes there.  They are all C&R for a period of time pre-season and some are no-kill all year.  

[JHbowhunter]

Just now, hammer4reel said:

Plenty of guys know how to release fish .

‘I had spots last year where they were pushed that most guys wouldn’t wade to . Had a blast up until stopping when the water got warm .

‘most CR guys are using artificials which give a great chance at recovery .

Springtime trout are heartier than the shad we CR

not what I was witnessing during C&R last year on Paulinskill & Flatbrook.  Guys were catching 50 plus on salmon eggs, many gut hooked, many tossed up on bank for minutes trying to extract the hook... covered in dirt, leaves, and then tossed back in...  

[Bucksnbows]

44 minutes ago, JHbowhunter said:

They should not do the C&R phase, just leave it alone until the normal opener

The C&R period helps move fish around and educate them so there are more in the river on opening day that aren't stacked up at every road bridge hole waiting to get ripped out.  Let them act like trout for a few weeks and move around some.   Then they will last deeper into the year and more will holdover.  

[Bucksnbows]

13 minutes ago, JHbowhunter said:

more than half those C&R fish will be dead before the opener.    

If by half  you mean 1%, I agree.  Last year the Division got more compliments than any other year, and NJ trout anglers are not happy that we still don't stock browns or brookies.  I fished often last spring, and I saw few mishandled fish.  Then again, I don't fish the bridge holes.  But I heard a ton of friends telling me how much fun it was to escape Covid lockdowns and stand in a stream catching trout.  Most go back unharmed, but some always succumb to poor handling.  

[Bucksnbows]

10 minutes ago, JHbowhunter said:

not what I was witnessing during C&R last year on Paulinskill & Flatbrook.  Guys were catching 50 plus on salmon eggs, many gut hooked, many tossed up on bank for minutes trying to extract the hook... covered in dirt, leaves, and then tossed back in...  

That's Sussabama for you.  Here in Morris County, we're far more refined and less Neanderthal  

[MGHunter66]

21 minutes ago, JHbowhunter said:

because the average jack-wagon  power-baiting trout fisherman has no clue how to properly release a fish...   At least open it when the gut hooked fish can be kept.  It's a huge waste.   

It’s ok Jack, we don’t judge. What color powerbait did you buy this year